Improve Pool Safety for Kids and Pets With the Proper Cover

If you have a backyard swimming pool, a pool cover is regarded as a must-have safety feature, especially if there are small children or pets in the family. A common cause of accidental death to young children relates to drowning. This is avoidable with the proper safety precautions in place. A solid or mesh cover is certain to help safeguard the entire family from pool related accidents.

Using the proper safety cover

Many pool owners mistakenly believe a standard winter cover is enough protection to safeguard the swimming pool. However, winter pool covers are rarely designed to accept the full weight of a small child or family pet. In order to give enough protection to act as a safety product, the cover needs to be rated to hold at least 485-pounds per sq ft. A pool cover rated at this level is certain to act as a safety feature and prevent a child falling into the water.

Pool covers are split into two main types: mesh and solid pool covers. Both of these safety covers come with their own positive and negatives points, so it is important to use the right one to match the needs.

Mesh Covers

Mesh safety covers are highly rated because they are designed for long-term use and require minimal maintenance. The mesh design of the cover means rainfall and snow is able to pass through into the pool, which is certain to mean excess water isn't left trapped on the top surface. A significant build-up of water can result in the cover sinking due to the extra weight. Because of this ability to drain excess water, they are perfect for those areas likely to experience a lot of rainfall. Mesh covers are easily attached to the deck area using regularly spaced anchors.

Solid Covers

A solid cover doesn't offer the benefit of allowing the water to pass through and drain into the pool. They are secured in much the same way as the mesh covers using the anchor system along the pool deck. Solid covers aren't the most practical choice for those living in areas that experience a lot of rainfall. Even though the children and pets are protected against submersion in the actual swimming pool, the build up of puddles on surface of the cover could pose further issues. A solution to solve this problem comes from using a pump system. An automatic pump is designed to detect the presence of water and drain it at regular intervals.